Fluid distributor for heat exchangers



4 1941- c. J. STROOBANTS FLUID DISTRIBUTOR FOR HEAT EXCHANGERS Filed Aug.v 10, 1939 mrE/vroR Patented Nov. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID DISTRIBUTOR FOR HEAT EXCHANGERS Gaston Jean stroobants, Woluwe-St. Lambert, Brussels, Belgium Application August 10, 1939, Serial No. 289,498

In Belgium March 18, 1939 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a meansfor controlling and improving the admission of heating fluid in heat-exchanging apparatus, such as those used in central heating plants. In particular, the new and improved means are applicable to steam heating plants.

In the existing heat-exchanging units of the latter type 'of plant, the heating steam is generally injected at the top part of the radiator, in the form of a horizontal jet located at the end of the steam inlet pipe.

This arrangement is the cause of an irregular heating of the said radiators, the highest tem-v perature being obtained in the neighborhood of the steam inlet while a' rapid decrease of heat may be noted when departing from this zone.

When the rate of heating is moderate, there is a permanent lack of heat balance in the radiator. If, on the contrary, heating is increased, the temperature at the inlet is unduly high, notwithstanding the conductibility of the radiator wall. This lack of uniform heat radiation is in direct relation with the intensity of steam condensation.

The present invention is concerned with a simple and yet emcient contrivance, which may systematically correct the above deficiency in that it permits a uniform and gradual heat distiibution throughout the radiator unit.

Substantially, the fluid distributor for heat- 30 exchangingapparatus, according to the invention,

consists in a tubular fluid conduit placed inside the radiator, communicating with the inlet of the heating fluid, a plurality of lateral openings in said conduit, communicating with the inner 35 space of the heat-exchanging apparatus and means for gradually controlling the ireepassage of said openings and consequently the rate of heating.

It is of course possible to design the said dis- 40 tributor according to the particular type of radiator to which it must be fltted, but in any case the lateral openings in the distributor conduit should communicate directly with the heating pipes or the radiator, so that heat is not localizedat the steam inlet,-as in the known radiators.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, a form of embodiment is described hereafte merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view, with the top half in section, of a radiator unit comprising the steam distribution according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a graph of two diiierent positions of the rotary distributor valve;

' Figure 3 is a perspective view with cut-off end of the distributor valve.

According to this embodiment, illustrated in Figure 1, the body of the heat-exchanging unit is of the conventional type and therefore the invention may easily be applied on the existing heating plants operating with steam. In this radiator body I is fitted a distributor 2 for the heating fluid, connected to the inlet of the steam supply 3 and supported at the other end 4 of the radiator. This distributor comprises a tube in which a plurality of slots 5 are provided, in spaced relation along its length, and also in circumferential direction, the slots being disposed about the circumference of the tube in planes which are preferablythe axial planes of the heat exchanging tubes. The distributor tube 2. is easily supported by two sockets, respectively 6 and I at the ends of same, in such a manner that these are the only two pieces to be adapted in existing radiators when applying the distribution according to the invention. A tubular sleeve 8 is smoothly adjus'tedin the distributor .2, and may be rotated by an adequate external controlling handle 8 which preferably moves in front of a scale or indicating means for the position of the sleeve. This sleeve 8 comprises slots or holes in exactly the same position as'the distributor 2, arranged in the same manner so that both sets of slots may correspond and give free passage to the,

heating medium, from the inlet of to the heating tube space.

According to an alternative embodiment the controlling sleeve 8 may both rotate and slide in longitudinal direction, either around the distributor 2 or inside the same. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the relative movement, of both distributor members 2 and 8 is secured by the the radiator arrangement, for example, of a helical groove ll 1 ing slots inithe moveable sleeve. It will benoted" that the combined rotation and longitudinal s1id-' ing motion assures a gradual variation of the free passage in the distributor wall. I

The invention is, of course, not limited to 5 the rectangular section of the.slots-,- it being understood that any particular shape of distribution opening and any form of relative movement of the distributor members to regulate admission of heating fluid may be adapted.

The distributor may be designed to act as a valve so that the admission of heating fluid may be cut 011 altogether.

What I claim is:

1. A device for assuring quantitative admission of heating fluid to an existing heat exchange apparatus including a plurality of heat exchange tubes communicating with a common header, comprising, a tubular conduit extending the full length of the header and communicating at one end with an inlet valve, said conduit having slots disposed about the circumference thereof in planes which are preferably the axial planes of the said tubes to discharge into the header and tubes, a second conduit concentrically and rotatably disposed in the first conduit and also having a plurality of slots adapted to be shifted into and out of registry with the slots of the flrst conduit to permit uniform regulation of heating fluid throughout all of the tubes communicating with the header, and a combined cap and plug fitted to the end of the second tube and having an operating element for facilitating the angular adjustment of the second conduit rela- 'tive to the first.

2. A fluid distributor unit for the tubes of existing heat exchange apparatus capable of assuring quantitative admission of heating fluid thereto, comprising, a tubular fluid conduit extending throughout the whole length of the heat apparatus, said conduit communicating with the inlet of heating fluid, a plurality or circumferentially arranged lateral passages spaced axially along said conduit and communicating with the heat. exchange tubes, and common meansv for gradually controlling the open area of said passages, .to permit quantitative regulation of heat fluid along the whole length of the heat exchange apparatus.

3. A fluid distributor unit for the tubes of 'existing heat exchange apparatus capable of assuring quantitative admision of heating fluid thereto, comprising a tubular fluid conduit extending throughout the whole length of the heat apparatus, said conduit communicating with the inlet of heating fluid and having a plurality of radial passages spaced axially along said conduit to communicate with the inner space of the heat exchanging apparatus, and a second tubular conduit adjustable concentrically within the first conduit and also having a plurality of radial passages spaced axially along the same to register with the passages in the first conduit, and means for actuating the second conduit relative to the first to control the area of the openings of said registering passages to uniformly control the passage of the heating fluid throughout all the tubes of the apparatus.

GASTON JEAN S'IROOBANTS. 

